I have to admit, my desire to go
apple picking started because I was jealous of my friend Kelly. Kelly
sent me e-mail with pictures of her family picking apples, including her
daughter, who at 3, is the same age as my son. The photos were just
wonderful, and made me want my son to have the same experience. There was
just one problem: Kelly lives in New York. Where they have seasons. How in
the world could my family go apple picking when we lived in sunny Southern
California? As it turns out, it is possible to go apple picking
near Los Angeles!

On a recent Sunday, our family had a wonderful time apple picking, in
Oak Glen located in San Bernardino County, off of Interstate 10, just east
of Redlands and Yucaipa.

From Anaheim, Oak Glen is just over an hour's drive. Located in the
foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, the climate is well-suited to
apple growing, and several orchards grow many varieties there. Some
orchards welcome visitors to pick their own apples, while others sell
pre-packed apples. To find out when specific varieties are ready for
harvesting, visitors can call ahead to most of the farms (see the sidebar
for some of those numbers).

We started our day by picking apples
at around 10:30 on the southeast end of Oak Glen at Riley's Farm.
Once in the orchard, a friendly hostess greeted us and explained how to
pick apples correctly. We learned about Rome, Red Delicious, and Winesap,
the three varieties available on Sunday. We learned how to pick them --
push up and twist -- so we would not damage the buds for next year's
harvest. We had three choices: a bag for $5, a larger bag for $8, or a
fifth of a bushel box for $10. We chose the box.

Kevin grabbed a picking tool and we crossed the street to a section
with several full Rome trees. Wind and frost damaged the Red Delicious
crop this year so those trees remain sparsely filled. As we picked apples
and snapped pictures, Matthew munched on a fresh, crisp fruit.

After we put our box of apples in the car, we headed up to the main
building and signed up for a hayride. Tickets cost $3 for adults and $2
for children. Two large horses, each weighing over 1000 pounds, pulled our
wagon on a tour of the ranch. Ginger, our guide, told us the history of
the farm during the course of our 20-minute ride.

According to Ginger, several apple
trees at Riley's are over 100 years old. Underground streams
irrigate the orchard so the trees grew even when left untended. When the
Riley family purchased the farm, they cleaned up years of overgrowth and
faced trees full of rats' nests! Water thirsty cat tails grow on the
border of the orchard, revealing the location of the underground springs.
Twenty-nine members of the Riley family live on the farm property,
representing multiple generations.

In front of the country store, corn
was already picked and ready for sale. Inside, we shopped
through several canned goodies such as apple butters, syrups, and Riley's
own raspberry preserves. Matthew selected a unique hobby horse with a bark
covered stick. Fresh cider, available for $7 per gallon, is made fresh in
cider presses near a homestead cabin, on a large grassy field.

While many visitors enjoy picnic lunches on picnic tables throughout
the farm, we visited the farm's barbecue and bakery. Our barbecue lunch
was very tasty. And for dessert, we selected turnovers and handheld apple
pies, which are like giant turnovers with a pie crust.

We had a wonderful time. Riley's is a
great place for a fun family experience, offering several
activities for children and a charming atmosphere: everyone working at
Riley's dressed in late 19th century farm garb in keeping with the
homestead theme of the grounds.

Up the road from Riley's is Los Rios Rancho. Los Rios Rancho proudly
boasts that their orchards are organic, although it feels much more
commercial than Riley's. Although Los Rios Rancho offers the opportunity
to pick your own apples, we just purchased the pre-packed apples. A
half-bushel box of apples costs $14 to $16.

The store also sells many goodies in jars such as apple butter and
fruit preserves. A deli and bakery offer lunch and apple pastries next
door. A beautiful grassy field in front of Los Rios Rancho provides a view
of the foothills that is perfect for picnics.

Past Los Rios Rancho is Oak Glen Village, where visitors can browse
through arts and crafts. Beyond Oak Glen Village is Parrish Pioneer Ranch,
which includes both a restaurant and store. A half-bushel of apples cost
$15 here. In addition to several varieties of pre-packed apples, Parrish
also offers apple wine tasting.

As Yodeling Merle entertains guests outside the Parrish store, you
might hear gunshots from the True West Stunt team up the hill. However
with the clock approaching 3:00 and our 3-year-old hitting that "no
nap yet" wall, we packed everyone back in the car for the ride home.

Next time I think I might curb my
apple purchasing a bit, or have fellow bakers ready and waiting to help me
use the apples. I will stop at a few of the craft and antique
stores, too. Because in our car we had a half bushel box of Red Delicious
apples, a half bushel box of Gala apples, and a 1/5 bushel box of Rome
apples.

In case you don't quite realize how many apples are in a half-bushel
box, let me tell you: A whole heck of a lot. Kevin took a bag of Red
Delicious to work to share, my mother took two bags of Red Delicious to
work to share, and Matthew is still eating Red Delicious apples. It took
me two full days, but I made and canned Gala applesauce. With those Rome
apples, I made two apple crisps, apple turnovers, baked apples and three
loaves of apple bread. And I still have Rome apples left.

And now I am no longer jealous of my friend Kelly in New York. Where
they have seasons I hear.

Adrienne gathered experience taking children to amusement parks when she worked as a day camp counselor and director. She was an elementary school teacher before she started her favorite job: being Matthew and Spencer's mom.

Adrienne, Matthew and Spencer visit Disneyland several times a month, usually with Daddy.

Besides Matthew and Spencer, Adrienne and her husband Kevin created and maintain the award-winning Happiest Potties on Earth here at MousePlanet.

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